Brian Cunningham

I was raised in ranching country and growing up I spent most of my days outdoors - I was either hunting, fishing, showing cattle or helping out as a ranch hand. But I'd always wanted to be an entrepreneur and have my own business. Like many people, I believed the path to advancement was to go to college and that education would provide opportunity. So I went to college, working on the side to put myself through school. While there, I met my wife and soon we had a daughter. That's when I found myself in college while working full-time to provide for my family. My responsibilities had outgrown my circumstances and I left college to work in construction full-time.

Working in construction was good money, but I was always working for someone else and I often had to travel and work overseas for the best opportunities. So even while I could provide for my family, I couldn't be there with them. A low point for me came on September 11, 2001. When America was attacked, I was working on a refinery in Aruba. All I could think about was getting back to be with my family. I felt isolated away from them and understandably they wanted me home. I couldn't get back to American soil until my contract was up. During that time, I started reflecting on what was important to me and when I looked back I realized that over a two-year period, I had been away from my kids for 1 ½ years. That's when I knew it wasn't worth the money.

That spring, I moved back to Hawaii (where my wife grew up) and started working doing hardwood floors. That's also the time when I was reintroduced to network marketing. I was drawn to network marketing because you didn't need a college education, previous business success or a large amount of capital to invest. If you just had the desire to succeed and a willingness to learn, you could do it. I had been around the industry before and had gotten to the end of my rope with it. I knew what the five key elements were to look for in a company but hadn't yet found a company with them. Some had great products but poor corporate management. With others, it was the compensation plan or timing that was off. I knew that unless all the elements were there, sooner or later it would fall apart.

I was in the process of getting my own hardwood flooring license when Marcy Littlejohn shared Waiora with me. Sometimes when people have been around the industry for a long time they become disillusioned. Everyone is looking for the "right" company, but sometimes they are looking so hard they can't see what's in front of them. For the first time, I saw a company with all of the five elements - a unique product, skilled management, a fair and lucrative compensation plan, supportive leadership and timed for momentum. With Waiora, I knew I found a home.

I am impressed by Waiora's long-term outlook in both its product and business philosophy. I believe it's important to approach your business with a methodical long-term outlook, too. Don't expect to be an Emerald in a month - if it happens great, but realize this is about creating a long-term, residual income and that doesn't happen overnight. I still set aside time each day to work my business.

It's also important to know what your vision statement is, your "why" for doing the business. What is it that you want your Waiora business to provide for you? Is it providing the best care for your parents? Or, is it the college education for your kids that you couldn't have? Or, saving your back from construction work? Whatever your "why", make sure that you know it. Then write down what your short, medium and long term goals are. Your "why" will allow you to overcome any obstacle to your success.

The best thing money can do is provide us with choices, and a chance to rediscover the dreams we once had. The average family that went bankrupt just needed an extra $200-$300 a month to keep their heads above water. Statistics show that many divorces wouldn't happen if there was only an extra $150 a month in household income. Those are stark examples, but it made me realize what a difference just a little more income can make in peoples lives.

I am filled with gratitude for everyone that is involved, giving of their time each day to get closer to their dreams and helping others. I am also thankful for those not directly working the business - the spouses and children whose support allows those working the business to pursue their dreams. I wouldn't be here without them.

Ultimately, Waiora is giving my family the financial security it needs so that we can start crossing things off our dreams list. Now I am able to fly to Texas to visit my family any time I want. Last year, I was the dad that was only able to attend six or seven of my son's t-ball games. This year, I am the head coach of his team! To go from being there once in a while to being there every game is priceless. That's a feeling I want others to experience as they rediscover their dreams with Waiora.